Waste Week 2021: Rethinking Waste

Monday, October 18, 2021 - Sunday, October 24, 2021 (all day)
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Hand holding up mason jar against greenery background

Did you know that waste contributes to climate change? The decomposition of organics, packaging and other garbage in landfills produces a significant amount of methane, which is a greenhouse gas 28 times for potent than carbon dioxide. Additionally, non-organic material and the production of resources is a significant source of emissions which end up as waste.

The Sustainability Office invites you to participate in Waste Week 2021: Rethinking Waste! From October 18-24, we encourage you to take the zero waste mason jar challenge to get a better understanding of how much waste you generate in one week - you might be surprised! We'll also be sharing other exciting activities and resources on our social media throughout October, on topics such as:

  • Shift Zero logo
    Strategies for reducing food waste
  • Waste sorting guidelines (on campus and in Waterloo Region)
  • Specialty recycling programs and donation guidelines during COVID-19
  • Repairing and upcycling clothing and textile waste
  • And much more!

To learn more about Waterloo's commitment to becoming a zero waste campus by 2035, check out our Shift Zero Action Plan.
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Read more about the challenge and supporting activities below:

Zero Waste Challenge  |  Activities 

Zero Waste 3+ Day Mason Jar Challenge

Are you ready for the mason jar challenge? The rules are simple:

  • Mason jar with waste inside against living wall backdrop in EV3
    Register your jar on thezero waste challenge registration page
  • Collect your waste destined for landfill in a mason jar (or similar-sized container) for one week 
  • Recycling and composting do not count toward your jar
  • Complete the follow-up survey (which will be sent to your email if you registered) by Monday, October 25, 2021.
  • BONUS: Share your progress on social media using #WasteWeekUW and #JoinTheShiftUW to help inspire others

By completing the steps above, you will be entered in a random prize draw to win one of these amazing prizes (see terms and conditions):

  • $100 gift card to Zero Waste Bulk
  • 1 of 2 $50 gift cards to Zero Waste Bulk
  • 1 of 10 $10 WatCard top-ups

Note: There is no 'winning' or 'losing' the challenge at the end of the week. The goal of the challenge is to bring awareness to how much and what kind of waste we produce in a week and to reflect on opportunities for more sustainable swaps. We encourage you to try to keep your jar as empty as possible for the week, though we acknowledge that COVID-19 presents unique challenges to waste reduction.

Activities

We want to make sure you're equipped with all the tools you need for the zero waste challenge! Here are a number of activities we'll be offering leading up the Zero Waste Week to help you out:

Activity Details Date/Location

WASTE SORTING QUIZ

Are you a Waste Warrior or a Recycling Rookie?  

Test your knowledge about sorting waste through a short quiz!

  • Participate for a chance to win:
    • 1 of 2 $50 gift cards to Zero Waste Bulk
    • 1 of Sustainability Office Swag (Water bottles, sustainable cutlery, etc.)
  • One entry per person (see terms and conditions)

To enter to win,complete this survey using your WATIam@uwaterloo.ca and click this link (please note the link will become live on Monday October 18 2021.

Open online between Mon, Oct 18 at 9:00am and Fri, Oct 22 at 11:59pm

WUSA Social Media Take Over!

WUSA Sustainability commissioner, Jenna Phillips, will take over the Sustainability Office’s Instagram to share tips on how to be waste conscious in your everyday life. 

Through posts, infographics, videos and more, WUSA representatives will share their most influential facts on how to reduce waste, repurpose materials and reuse discarded items throughout the day.

Stay tuned! 

 October 20 2021

WASTE WISE LIFESTYLE & COOKING

Looking to be more waste conscious throughout your day?

We challenge you to either have a waste conscious meal day (i.e., vegan/vegetarian meals, no food waste meals, use organic products) or buy nothing for a day.

To enter to win a prize, tag the Sustainability Office in a social media post or email us at sustainability@uwaterloo.ca depicting your zero-waste meal day or how you avoided buying items for a day!

All participants will be entered to win some awesome prizes, including gift cards to Zero Waste Bulk and Swag.  

  • 1 of 2 $50 Gift Card 

  • 1 od Sustainability Swag (I.e., water bottles, reusable bags and cutlery) 

 Open online between Mon, Oct 18 at 9:00am and Fri, Oct 22 at 11:59pm

WASTE WISE COOKING SOCIAL MEDIA TAKE OVER

Looking to reduce waste when you are cooking? 

UW student, Sofia Slater, will share what she does with vegetable scraps through the Sustainability Office’s Instagram through a video!

 October 21 2021

CONTINUE YOUR WASTE ENGAGEMENT

Thank you to all participants who took part in Waste Week 2021! We hope that you took the opportunity to meaningfully rethink your waste consumption.

To stay engaged and learn more about ways to reduce your waste, we encourage all Waste Warriors to listen to the Sustainability Office’s Podcast on Zero Waste and participate in upcoming workshops! Registrants of the 3-Day Mason Jar Challenge will also receive the follow-up survey to be filled out in order to win a prize. 

 October 22 2021

FAQs

We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you prepare for Waste Week 2021. If your question wasn't answered here, please reach out to the Sustainability Office.

1. How do I register?

How do I register?

Visit our Zero Waste Challenge registration form to register for the challenge.

2. What kind of Jar can I use?

Feel free to use a mason jar, pasta jar, or any similar-sized jar or container you already own.

3. What goes in my jar?

Use your mason jar (or similar-sized container) to collect your waste destined for landfill. Place any recyclable or compostable material into the appropriate bin (e.g. recycling, green bin).

If you aren't sure where an item goes, start by checking out our A-Z Sorting Guide if you are on campus or the Waste Whiz for the Region of Waterloo. If you are living outside of Waterloo Region, please check your municipality's recycling guidelines. If you still have questions, you can reach out the Sustainability Office! 

Please note: We do not recommend collecting personal hygiene products or biomedical waste in your jars; rather, dispose of those items in regular garbage bins. Feel free to make other exceptions as necessary.

4. How do I complete the follow-up survey?

If you provided your email on the registration form (and consent to email you), the Sustainability Office will send the link to the follow-up survey directly to your email. 

Otherwise, the link will be posted on this webpage and the Sustainability Office social media channels (@uwsustainable on Instagram and Twitter).

Terms and conditions

Zero Waste Challenge

Eligibility:

  • You must be a student or employee at the University of Waterloo, aged 18 years or older and residing in Ontario to be eligible for the prize draw.

Challenge Details:

  • The challenge starts on Monday, October 15, 2018. (Registration will open on Monday, September 24, 2018 at 8:00am.)
  • The follow-up survey will be open until Friday, October 26, 2018 at 11:59pm.
  • The registration form and follow-up survey will enter participants into the prize draw.
  • One entry per person.
  • No purchase is necessary. Participation is voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time. Alternate entry can be arranged by emailing Andrea Bale (abale@uwaterloo.ca)

Winner Selection:

  • The winners will be selected by random draw and notified by Tuesday, October 30, 2018.
  • The selected winner must answer a skill testing question correctly before obtaining the prize and being declared winner. If incorrectly answered, another entrant will be selected randomly. 
  • Selection of winners is randomized, where chances of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Waste Wise Lifestyle & Cooking Challenge

Eligibility:

  • You must be a student or employee at the University of Waterloo, aged 18 years or older and residing in Ontario to be eligible for the prize draw.

Challenge Details:

  • All workshop attendees with a @uwaterloo.ca email address will automatically be entered into a random prize draw.
  • One entry per person.
  • No purchase is necessary. Participation is voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time. Alternate entry can be arranged by emailing Aleks Spasevski (aspasevski@uwaterloo.ca)

Winner Selection:

  • The selected winners will be notified by Tuesday, November 1, 2021
  • The selected winner must submit a picture of their waste consious meal (i.e. vegan meal, organic meal, etc.) or how you bought nothing for a day to sustainability@uwaterloo.ca or tag @uwsustainable online. If the picture does not depict the challenge, another participant will be selected.
  • Selection of winners is randomized, where chances of winning depend on the number of eligible participants.

Waste Sorting Quiz

Eligibility:

  • You must be a student or employee at the University of Waterloo, aged 18 years or older and residing in Ontario to be eligible for the prize draw.

Challenge Details:

  • Click the link (please note the link will become live on Monday, October 18, 2021).
  • This challenge will be from Monday, October 18, 2021 at 8:00am until Friday, October 22, 2021 at 11:59pm.
  • Once you completed the quiz and provided your uwaterloo email address, you will automatically be entered for a prize.
  • One entry per person.
  • No purchase is necessary. Participation is voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time. Alternate entry can be arranged by emailing Aleks Spasevski (aspasevski@uwaterloo.ca)

Winner Selection:

  • The selected winners will be notified by Tuesday, November 1, 2021.
  • The selected winner must submit a picture of their score from the Waste Sorting App and tag @uwsustainable online or send it to sustainability@uwaterloo.ca. If the picture does not depict the challenge, another participant will be selected.
  • Selection of winners is randomized, where chances of winning depend on the number of eligible participants.
Additional Information
Cost: Free